Shielding Ball from Wind with Golf Bag on Green
3 min read
The Situation
Is it permissible for a player to place their golf bag parallel to the line of play on the putting green to shield the ball from the wind?
The Ruling
No, a player is not allowed to position their golf bag or any other object on the putting green to deliberately shield their ball or line of play from the wind or other elements during a stroke. However, there is no penalty if the object is removed before the stroke is made.
Several Rules of Golf address the use of equipment or objects to influence the playing conditions during a stroke. The relevant rules are:
Rule 10.2b(5) – Physical Help, Eliminating Distractions, and Protection from Elements:
This Rule prohibits a player from making a stroke with their caddie, another person, or an object deliberately positioned to:
Eliminate distractions, or
Give protection from sunlight, rain, wind, or other elements.
The Rule clarifies what actions are allowed:
A player may take personal actions to protect themselves from the elements, such as wearing protective clothing or holding an umbrella over their head.
A player may ask a person not deliberately positioned by them to move or stay, but cannot deliberately position others or objects for protection during the stroke.
Rule 1.3a – Playing the Ball as It Lies and Conditions Affecting the Stroke:
Players are prohibited from deliberately improving the physical conditions affecting their stroke using equipment or other means.
Rule 14.1c – Prohibited Actions on the Putting Green:
Players may not use equipment or objects to artificially alter conditions affecting their stroke on the green.
Positioning a golf bag on the putting green to shield the ball or intended line of play from the wind is considered deliberately positioning an object to gain protection from an element (wind).
This violates Rule 10.2b(5) because the object is being used to protect the player from wind during the stroke.
It is also an artificial improvement of the conditions affecting the stroke under Rule 1.3a.
Such an action is unfair and goes against the spirit of the game, where natural elements are part of the challenge.
If the player removes the golf bag or object before making the stroke, they are not receiving protection from the wind or elements at the moment of the stroke.
Consequently, there is no penalty because the conditions affecting the stroke are no longer artificially improved during the actual stroke.
The key point is that no physical help (including protection) or artificial improvement can exist while the stroke is being made.
In summary, deliberately positioning an object to shield from wind on the putting green during a stroke is prohibited under Rule 10.2b(5) and Rule 1.3a.
Removing the object before the stroke avoids a penalty because no protection exists at the moment the stroke is made.
Players may protect themselves from the elements by wearing appropriate clothing or using personal equipment (like an umbrella) held by themselves, but they may not use an object placed deliberately to aid the stroke.
Several Rules of Golf address the use of equipment or objects to influence the playing conditions during a stroke. The relevant rules are:
Rule 10.2b(5) – Physical Help, Eliminating Distractions, and Protection from Elements:
This Rule prohibits a player from making a stroke with their caddie, another person, or an object deliberately positioned to:
Eliminate distractions, or
Give protection from sunlight, rain, wind, or other elements.
The Rule clarifies what actions are allowed:
A player may take personal actions to protect themselves from the elements, such as wearing protective clothing or holding an umbrella over their head.
A player may ask a person not deliberately positioned by them to move or stay, but cannot deliberately position others or objects for protection during the stroke.
Rule 1.3a – Playing the Ball as It Lies and Conditions Affecting the Stroke:
Players are prohibited from deliberately improving the physical conditions affecting their stroke using equipment or other means.
Rule 14.1c – Prohibited Actions on the Putting Green:
Players may not use equipment or objects to artificially alter conditions affecting their stroke on the green.
Positioning a golf bag on the putting green to shield the ball or intended line of play from the wind is considered deliberately positioning an object to gain protection from an element (wind).
This violates Rule 10.2b(5) because the object is being used to protect the player from wind during the stroke.
It is also an artificial improvement of the conditions affecting the stroke under Rule 1.3a.
Such an action is unfair and goes against the spirit of the game, where natural elements are part of the challenge.
If the player removes the golf bag or object before making the stroke, they are not receiving protection from the wind or elements at the moment of the stroke.
Consequently, there is no penalty because the conditions affecting the stroke are no longer artificially improved during the actual stroke.
The key point is that no physical help (including protection) or artificial improvement can exist while the stroke is being made.
In summary, deliberately positioning an object to shield from wind on the putting green during a stroke is prohibited under Rule 10.2b(5) and Rule 1.3a.
Removing the object before the stroke avoids a penalty because no protection exists at the moment the stroke is made.
Players may protect themselves from the elements by wearing appropriate clothing or using personal equipment (like an umbrella) held by themselves, but they may not use an object placed deliberately to aid the stroke.